The arguments around the Rangers keep circling back to the same names, and Stan Fischler isn’t backing off.
On Pavel Dorofeyev, the criticism from fans is that he’s getting chances, ringing posts and crossbars, and deserves a break. Fischler’s answer is blunt: he says he isn’t “picking” on Dorofeyev, points out that through 20 games the winger has six goals, and says only one of them could be called “important.”
He also notes that the player is a MINUS-18. The Old Scout’s take is more measured: it’s still too early to hammer a newcomer adjusting to a new team, coach and system, but the minus-18 is “both unacceptable and undeniable.”
Igor Shesterkin drew a different kind of pushback. One fan objected to any comparison with Dylan Garand, warned against even mentioning Shesterkin in trade talk, and took issue with the nickname “Iggy.”
Fischler responded that Garand has had a super start “all things considered,” and said it makes sense to compare him with the goalie he’s replacing. He added that if he hurt anyone’s feelings - or the feelings of `Iggy - then he half-apologizes, which he calls fair.
On the nickname, he said, “do better, and I’ll happily reconsider.” But he also said “Prince Igor” is already patented by Sean McCaffrey.
The Old Scout agreed the complaints have merit and said it’s too early to judge a goalie in a marathon season. If Garand gets the Rangers into the playoffs, then he deserves credit.
If not, the hope has to be that Shesterkin makes a complete recovery. For now, the message is simple: “CALM DOWN!”
Matt Rempe was the other flashpoint. One fan asked Fischler to leave him alone, saying the kid barely plays, may be getting jerked around by Shanny and Drury, and deserves patience.
Fischler said he has already given Rempe more coverage, good and bad, than anyone. He pointed to the fight with Matt Martin that made Rempe the “People’s Choice,” then said the problem is that Rempe is not a particularly good fighter and picks up too many, often unfair, penalties because he’s the biggest player in the league.
He added that he’s just reporting what he sees, and right now he sees no Rempe lining up against Vancouver, though he hopes that changes. The Old Scout’s verdict is that Rempe’s value comes mostly from his size, but that same size is a liability.
His skating, he said, is not NHL calibre, and with more versatile players like Tye Kartye and Jaroslav Chmelar around, there’s not much room for a good fella with lesser talents.
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